Israeli forces launched an extensive military operation in the West Bank city of Hebron starting late Saturday, following a deadly attack on Israeli soldiers the previous day. The move displaced hundreds of Palestinian families and involved home demolitions, arrests, and a citywide lockdown. The operation comes amid escalating violence in the region and just days ahead of Israel’s national election on Tuesday, with security and political tensions running high.
On Friday, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near a checkpoint outside Hebron, killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding three others. The assailants were killed in a subsequent shootout with Israeli troops. While Hamas, the Gaza-based armed group, praised the attack, it did not officially claim responsibility. Israeli officials linked the gunmen to the group but offered no confirmed details on the attackers' affiliations.
In response, the Israeli military encircled Hebron, sealing off the city’s entrances and exits and initiating a large-scale operation reportedly set to last several days. Forces used loudspeakers to order Palestinians in the Deir Baha neighborhood—where the gunmen were believed to live—to evacuate. Residents described hurried and often distressing evacuations in the middle of the night, with some elderly and sick individuals needing assistance.
Local Palestinian officials estimated that between 150 and 250 families have been displaced so far. Some displaced residents expressed frustration and condemned the action as collective punishment. Hebron’s mayor, Yousef Jabari, characterized the crackdown as politically motivated ahead of the election, suggesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to display strength through images of displacement and military force. Hebron governor Khaled Dudin also described the operation as collective punishment, noting that the crackdown might expand beyond the initial neighborhood.
Israeli government figures, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, vowed to target what they described as “terrorist infrastructure” in Hebron. Netanyahu indicated intentions to replicate similar operations previously conducted in the West Bank cities of Tulkarem and Jenin, where large-scale evacuations and demolitions displaced thousands. Officials emphasized that raids aimed to confiscate weapons and dismantle militant networks, though no explicit link between the affected homeowners and the gunmen was provided. The Israeli military stated that civilians would be allowed to leave through designated checkpoints but did not clarify if or when residents would be permitted to return.
The military also ramped up demolitions of “illegal” Palestinian structures near the attack site, a frequent practice in areas under Israeli control, which Palestinians argue is part of a broader policy restricting their ability to build legally. Some Palestinians described investing life savings in their homes, only to see them destroyed.
The attack and ensuing crackdown have inflamed tensions in an already volatile West Bank, where violence has intensified in recent months. Extremist Israeli settlers have reportedly increased attacks on Palestinians, especially during the olive-harvest season. Palestinian health authorities reported that since the beginning of the year, 112 Palestinians and six Israelis have been killed in the West Bank conflict.
Political analysts noted that Israeli politicians, including Netanyahu and his right-wing allies, are leveraging security concerns in the run-up to the election. Netanyahu faces strong competition from a bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who attended recent protests calling for a commission to investigate security lapses linked to the 2023 Hamas attacks. The election is widely seen by many Israelis and Palestinians as pivotal for the future governance and security policies of the region.
The Palestinian Authority criticized the operation and called for urgent international intervention to prevent further displacement. It also sought diplomatic support in response to what it described as harsh punitive measures against Palestinian residents. Meanwhile, Palestinian residents of Hebron expressed resilience despite the upheaval, with some vowing not to leave their homes despite the operation.
The situation remains fluid as the election approaches and the broader conflict in the region continues to unfold.